Handbag



. Patented May 11,1943` t HANDBAG Ludwig Kaphan, Brooklyn, N.,Y., assignor ofdonehalf to Joseph Friedman and one-half to Rudolph Lobel, both of New York, N. Y.

Application Noyember 20, 1942, Serial No."466,532

' (o1. 15o-2s) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to devices such as handbags.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having improved means comprising decorative or wear resisting elements and tapes for mounting the same in whole or in part to realize a superior construction which is adapted for theproduction of novel design characteristics.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the nature set forth, as in a handbag whose walls .comprise or are supplemented by a multiplicity of interlaced hollow, rigid elements, with the lacing extending to the extreme bottom and end edges of the handbag, wherein the following advantages are obtained:

1. Exposure of thelacingat the edges of the handbag is avoided, and to the contrary the lacing is retracted into the elements to be protected thereby. l

2. Wear of the lacing within the elements is reduced as by `oroad engaging surface portions of eyes offset from the main wall of each element.

3. The lacing may follow paths at the edges of the handbag which are curvedor otherwise adjustable, thus avoiding breakage of certain special lacing and allowing for the stiinessor resilience of the lacing or of coating portions therefor.

4. .Almost any kind of lacing, Whether in the nature of tapes of textile or composition materials or even of plastics may be used.

5. Window openings may be provided in the main wall directly opposite the offsets or eyes without thickening the material or resorting to other complications, and rWhere the article is made of plastic it lends itself readily to simple molding operations, and the strength of the element is maintained by the offsets bridging the windows. t

6. Greater resilience in the element and less liability to breakage is afforded by interrupting themarginal flanges thereof to afford openings -for the lacing, with the offsets affording a reenforcement at said openings.

'7. The color and design of the lacing affords an inherent design feature visible through said windows and being maintained againstsagging by the underlying broad offset portions through which the lacing is strung.

8. Lacing that is relatively thick, such as that 'made of folded or fiat tubular leather or composition material may be readily used and follow a gradual curved line at the edges of the handbag Without protrusion from the element because the offset portions are spaced from-the flanges of the element so that the lacing may be only partially in the flange openings or wholly spaced from the latter. -v Y' Y .v f

9. A plastic color -or appearance like that of the elements may be affordedas a background for the lacing, if the latter be narrower than their supporting offset portions causing the latter to show and yet concealing the lining vor other unnished underlying parts of the handbag.

l0. Flexibility for the handbag ina high degree `is afforded because the elements are not restrained at their extreme edges, and yet the shape of the handbag walls is Vbetter maintained by atwise edge abutment of the elements, avoiding a condition whereby the handbag walls appear to break in different angles.

It is therefore anl object of the invention to provide a handbag which shall realize all of the foregoing advantages, with improved features adapted for carrying out the advantages in` all parts of the handbag as may be desired.

` Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With thevaforesaid objects in View, the invention consists of the novel combinations and arrangements of rparts hereinafter described Vin their preferredembodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated on the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the samereference characters .throughout the several views.

In the drawing: l t. Y V Figure l` ls a view in front elevation showing a handbag embodying the invention with parts removed and in section.

Fig.'2 is an edge view thereof. 1

Fig. 3` is an enlarged sectional viewof aportion thereof, but with certain decorative portions of the laced elements omitted. n

Fig, 4 is va fragmentary side view of a member for interconnecting the vertical Ylacing with the lining.

Fig..5 is a sectional view of `an element along a line other than'at the' center thereof as in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View of an element as in Fig. 3,but,showing a modified element adapted to substantially ,conceal .the lacing at an edge of the handbag.v

The advantages of the invention as here4 outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combinedin one and the same'structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

y 'niwuibe obvious to those sinnedl in the arf,- to

- which this invention appertains, that the same or other closure means as may be desired. To

these members I2 is connected the vertical lacing I! whereby the decorative elements I8 are sus,- pended. To ailord a neat ilnish, the member I2 of different color and texture :nay-be used for a at each side of the bag is formed with openings II so that the vertical lacingis passed over ther members I2 and then downwardly through the openings I 'I into connection with the members I2, for example, at the stitching It. These details of the structure are as disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 2,294,088fissued Aug. 28, 1942 to Rudolph Lobelfor Handbags, and certain teachings of that patent may be incorporated herein by reference. In the instant case, the construction is improved by the provision of cut-outs It aligned withthe openings Il and being arranged to snuglyreceive the vertical lacing so that no part thereof projects and is subject to wear. This is clearly shown in Fig. 3 and is rendered possible by the improved elements I8 which'will now be described. However, it will be appreciated that 'the elements may be mounted on a support or connected with a lining in other ways.

It 1S tobeiloted 'that in Figs. 3, 5 and 6, the

background of the color or character ofthefmat'erial of the elements and thus'conceal the lining or other underlying structure.

'Ihe lacing I5 and I9 extends through the eye members 23' and through the flange opening 22, the lacing crossing centrally of the elements I6 within the hollow space thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. l. 'I'he horizontal lacing then appears as such in the windows 24, and the vertical lacing similarly appears as such at its windows. Tapes design eifect'o'f the lacing as seenl through the openings 24 on the outside of the handbag. By suitably tensioning the lacing, the elements I6 may be closely side by side, with their flanges 2| in face to face vcontact with each other. At the bottom andends ofthe handbag the lacing may .gradually .curvefrom the eye portions, and lie ornamental squares Ilia are omitted, but the elements IB are otherwise thesam'e and hence are designatedby the same numeral. p

l The elements I6 are also interconnected by horizontal lacing I9, each tape extending clear around the bag with its'ends interconnected to'v form a ring', or each tape may terminate at the opposed ends of the bag' where it vmay be connected to the liningat the seam thereof or other- Wise secured. In any case, the horizontal lacing does notl project so as to be subject to wear, but is protected by the adjacent elements I6. Precisely the same arrangement iscarried out at the bottomofthe bag as at the ends thereof, andthe principle is indicated at the mouth ofthe bag at members I2, as already described. v

Each element I6 is a hollow structure having a main. wall 20 and side flanges 2| forming a shallow box which is open towardthe lining.

or undercut 22 whichis preferably wholly open at the free edge of the flange.l The anges are otherwise continuous and continuouslyl connected to the wall 20 of the element.y

j Aligned with each opemngjz is an adjacentvv Eachange is centrally interruptedto form aslot municating therewith. Each eye member is ari Aranaeclfto receivejalacin'g such as I 5 ork ISand is relatively broad'to afford ample backing forv the lacing. Since the eye members are of'substantially the same size as the window openings 2 4, theyinay serve to hold the lacingsnugly againstw the window opening-S. lf. .as shown. thev laclngm the windows and will aiordaneat, andjattra'ctive :being made of folded* ortubular pasted ilat; f To Aprevent (cutting i silience because theiniia'nge's l If f desired', their "parts may be the"lacing, andfreenforce the elements only Partially inthe flange openings as shown in Fig. l; this appliesv also to the top of the handbag as shown in Fig. 3; In fact, the lacing may lie clear of the" flange openings entirely. Yet the horizontal tapes are visible at thecndsoff the handbag, and the vertical tapes are' similarly visible at the bottomv of the handbag through the ange openings, ythus carrying out the design effect. The .verticalitapes also afford a decorative flnishat the mouth ofthe handbag.l i-

The tapes maybe of different sizes, constructions and materials.: 'Iheyfmay consist lolf-textile or woven ribbon or cord,or of twisted yarns or fibers,xor of artificial leather or other composition materials orevenof plastics. They'maylbe of increased thickness as desired. for instance,by stock, open `or or breakingbf the lacing or surfacethereof, the e'ye portions or Voflsets'23 permit the lacing to'follow a-suitable as indicated `in Fig'. 3, and without exposing the 'I'he elements I 6 are adapted to be-mva'de as metal stampings but can also be molded of plastic, in which case a relativelysimple' mold and f a minimum of material constructionsh'ownLW y 'Theelements I6 also possess considerable re- 2`I 'are interrupted. interconnectedfby the ey'e portions 23, butithe latter are preferably spaced from the ilanges for easier curvatureof I6 especiallyiat the' window openings 24 thereof. i

In fact, the lacing may be wholly out of contact with the thin edges of the flanges even atthe `canloef used becausev of the openings`22 thereof vto avoid wear.

,Herbier mia .handbag Oifthisiype 'is mportant -Despitetne ntwise'aputment ofthe flanges 2 Line' `wens of the handbag often appear to break sharply in diierent irregular directions.

f In the instant-{caseany such tendency is smoothed out becausethe lacing not connected-tothe elements I6 at their extremeedgeabutjinward thereof; and yb'eeause'relatively thiclr or'soniewhat am ladersmaybesreadnyemployed: l f

The assembung'ef' 1 n handbag I o may be" et! rested 1n any suitable manner: 'I iie 'laenger easy. to vaccommayrepessed geen Graeme used at the bottom and at the ends of the-handbag; but they are not as advantageousas those at I6. They make the lacing o f the tapes more difcultbecause the flange 2l acts as an obstruction, and they reduce the regionxavailable for bending or curving the tapes. Y 'It is thus seen that all the advantages of the invention are fully realized and the novel structure produced possesses inherent design character of a distinctive order which is valuable in a ladys handbag.

I claim:

1. A device including a handbag having a bag Y to mount the decorative elements and lying partially, adjustably in the slots whereby the lacing is protected at the said end of the bag body.

2. -A device including a handbag having a, bag body having opposed walls interconnected at the bottom and ends of the bag body, decorative elements for said walls, each element having a plate and marginal ilanges to form a, hollow structure, the anges projecting toward the adjacent walls and being interconnected at the corners of the plate and having slots open at the free edges of the flanges, the slots being located intermediate of said corners, each structure having eye :portions in the hollow thereof aligned with adjacent slots, the lacing passing through the eye portions in different directions so as to intersect in each v element, the lacing also extending through thev slot openings but adjustably lying spaced inward from or partially in those slots which are at the bottom and edges oi the bag body, whereby exposure of the lacing beyond the elements is prevented.

3. A handbag having a wall comprising preformed rectangular decorative elements each having a relatively thin wall and a -marginal ilange on the four sides thereof whereby the elements are adapted to abut each other when strung on lacing, lacing, including tapes crossing each other in each element-means on said side of the walls for slidably engaging the tapes to mount said elements, said anges vhaving portions providing slots extending to the free edges of the flanges, said slots being so much less in latter vlying at wall and others lying spaced from said bag wall,

the tapes passing through slots lying spaced from said edge and beingvcurved so as to'extend only partially into slots lying at the edge of said bag wall, said means including eye portions integral with the wall of each element and being otherwise .f separate of said flangeatherebelng one eye por- Y tion for each respective slot opening, whereby the tapes are controlled as aforesaid at each side edge of each element. l 4 l 4. A handbag accordingto claim 3 whereinthe wall of each element is provided with window openings opposite tothe eye portions and in substantially full communication with the interior of the eye portions, with the latter supporting the v` y tapes against thewindow openings for visibility at each element of tapes extending in dierent directions. l

5. A handbag according to claim 3 wherein said eye portions are spaced from each other to leave therebetween a ireel space in which the portions of the tapes that cross each other are located. 6. A handbag according to claim 3 wherein the wall of each element'is provided with four window openings registering with and having full communication with each eye portion, the latter being spaced from eachother-so that the crossing portions of the tapes lie therebetween wherelength than the flanges and the tapes being so narrow as to lie freely in said slots,` the latter being so wholly open and the said means being so spaced therefrom that the tapes are adjustably movable into and out of the slots. certain of the j are spaced from .said edge.

by only one tape is visibly held relatively snugly against a window opening by an eye portion.

'7. A handbag having a bag' body comprising preformed elements each having a wall and v ilanges' marginally connected thereto to form boxlike elements, said flanges having slots open at the free edges of the flanges, eye portions connected to the wall in alignment with the centers of the slots and being spaced from adjacent flanges, and tapesstrung through the eye portions and adapted to enter the said slots, said tapes extending through eye portions of a series of elements located at an edge of the handbag.

the tapes passing around said edge and lying only j i f partially, adjustably in theslotsthat are nearest' said edge and passing wholly through slots that 8.A `handbag havinga bag body comprising preformed elements each having a wall and flanges marginally connected thereto to form box-like elements, said flanges having slots open at the free edges of the flanges, eye portions connected to the wall in alignment withthe vcenters of the slots and being spaced from adjacent flanges, and tapes strung through the eye porg tions and'adapted to enter the said slots, said eye portions being of suiiicient width to ail'ord a broad base for the tapes, said wall having window openingseopposite to the eye portions and respectively communicating therewith, and the eye po'r-v tions being atleast as large as the window openings to prevent visibility therethrough if the tapes l `used be narrower than said openings.

LUDWIGKAPHAN.y f 

